Tag Archives: Black and white

July 29, 1922 – The Laugh-O-gram Short Film Little Red Riding Hood Premieres in Theaters

On July 29, 1922, the Laugh-o-Gram short film Little Red Riding Hood premiered in theaters. Though Walt Disney had had success with the Newman Laugh-O-grams in the early 1920s, this new short film was his first foray into the animation business among the likes of the New York studios. Though this short film would start a string of adapted fairy tale cartoons, this venture would fail until Disney created the Alice Comedies. The film was considered a lost film for decades, but a print was found in the 1990s in a London film library; the short was eventually restored by the Walt Disney Company when they acquired it in 1998.

“…we invite you to relive with us the story telling magic, the wit, the wisdom, the humor, the understanding of a very special person who gave the world a timeless and universal art form.”

On July 10, 1981, the tribute short film Once Upon a Mouse was released. A joint production between Kramer/Rocklin Studios and Walt Disney Productions, this short was released to honor the Disney Studios’ twentieth animated feature film. It is a mix of clips from Disney animated features, short films, and clips from Disneyland, showcasing Disney Studios from its early days to the status it had in the early 1980s.

June 27, 1927 – The Alice Comedy Alice in the Klondike is Released to Theaters

On June 27, 1927, the Alice Comedy Alice in the Klondike was released to theaters. It was the 53rd Alice Comedy released, and the 6th to feature fourth and final Alice actress Lois Hardwick. Like many of the Alice Comedies starring Hardwick, the film has since been classified as a lost film.

June 13, 1927 – The Alice Comedy Alice’s Channel Swim is Released to Theaters

On June 13, 1927, the Alice Comedy Alice’s Channel Swim was released to theaters. It was the 52nd Alice Comedy released, and the fifth starring fourth and final Alice actress, Lois Hardwick. Unfortunately, like many of Hardwick’s short films, the film has since been classified as a lost cartoon.

June 11, 1928 – The Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Short Film Poor Papa is Released to Theaters

On June 11, 1928, the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short film Poor Papa was released to theaters. This was the first Oswald short created, though not the first released (as that honor goes to Trolley Troubles). When it was sent to Universal for review, the character of Oswald was deemed too old and fat, and a new imagining of the lead character was needed. The film was eventually released a year later. The short had been thought of as a lost film for decades, but three copies were found in the United Kingdom. Disney was later able to buy a print and restore the film, releasing it on the Blu-Ray of Pinocchio in 2017.

“This cartoon as far as we know hasn’t been seen in over half a century.” – Dave Bossert, Producer, Creative Director, and Head of Special Projects at Walt Disney Animation Studios

On June 8, 2013, the 24th Silent Film Event was held at UCLA, with the 1928 Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short film Hungry Hobos touted as the headline of the event. The short film was previously thought to be lost, but a 16-mm print of the movie had been discovered two years prior in a movie vault in England. Since then, Disney has bought the print and restored it extensively, preparing it for this “re-premiere” at UCLA.

May 30, 1927 – The Alice Comedy Alice’s Picnic is Released to Theaters

On May 30, 1927, the Alice Comedy Alice’s Picnic was released to theaters. It was the 51st Alice Comedy produced, and the fourth to star fourth and final Alice actress Lois Hardwick. Though not considered a lost film, it has not been released on home video.